Tempo-control device



A. G. EYLES,

TEMPQCONTROL DEVICE. APPLlcATloN HLED AuG.|9. 19:6.

Patented J an. 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. G. EYLES.

TEMPO CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue. 19. 1916.

` Patented @11.211920 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE. A

ANTON G. EYLES, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IWA, ASSIGNOR OF UNE-HALF TO JOI-IN I-I. LEE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

TEMPO-CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed August 19, 1916.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANTON G. EYLEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Bapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tempo-Control Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to self-playing musical instruments, and particularly to means for controlling the time of the music.

The primary object is to provide a simple automatic controller which controls the speed of the motor, and which is associated with a tempo-indicator in such a manner that the time of the music may be readily set at a desired rate, either before the playing starts, or during the playing operation.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of the music-roll-carrying mechanism, motor, and associated parts of a self-playing instrument, equipped with my improved tempoeregulating device; Fig. 2, a broken plan view of the automatic controller employed; Fig. 3, a broken front elevational view of the same; Fig. 4, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a broken view, diagrammatic in its nature, illustrating a modification; Fig. 6, a broken view, diagrammatic in its nature, illustrating a still further modification; and Fig. 7,

Va plan view of another modiication.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, A represents the music-rollcarrying mechanism of a piano-player action or mechanism, for illustration; B, the motor thereof; C, the wind-chest, or suctionbox; C, the governor pneumatic; C2, the tempo-box; C3, the tempo-valve which controls the passage ot air through the motortube C4; C5, the reroll valve; D, an automatic controller connected with the valve C3 of the motor-control device; and D', a tempo-indicator having a member connected with the automatic controller, either directly, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, or as illustrated in Fig. 5, or indirectly, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The music-roll-carrying mechanism A is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

serial No. 115,804.

supported on a frame A, in the usual manner. It is provided, as is usual, with a roller 1 for the music-roll, a roller 2 which serves as a take-up spool, and a tracker-bar 3 over which the music-sheet passes. Either the roller 2 or the roller 1 may be actuated, at will, through the medium of gear mechanism 4 actuated by the motor B, in a well understood manner.

The motor B, which is illustrated, is of the pneumatic type and is provided with a shaft 5, which actuates the gear mechanism 4.

The mechanism C, C, C2, C3, etc., which is concerned with the variations of pressure in the motor-tube C, whereby the motor is operated, need not be explained in detail. This mechanism may be of any desired type. rlhe valve C3 forms a part of the motorcontrol device. It is associated with a graduated tempo-slot 6, and as the valve C3 is moved to close more of the slot 6, the speed of the motor is reduced.

The valve C3 is connected, by a rod 7 with a lever 8. The lever 8, in turn, is connected by a rod 9 with a hand lever 10 associated with what is usually known as the key-bed 11. The lever 10 is fulcrumed at an intermediate point, as indicated at 12. The lower end of the lever is connected with the rod 9 and is also connected with a rod 13. The rod 13 is also connected with the lower arm 14 of a vertical rockshat't 14, whose upper end is equipped with an arm 141. The arm 14b has connected therewitha rod 15, which extends parallel with the axes of the rollers 1 and 2 and slides through a guide 16, with which the frame A is equipped a short distance below the plane of the roller 2.

The automatic controller D, in the form illustrated, comprises a shoe, or mounting, 17; a rock-member 18 pivoted in the mounting 17 at the point 1S and having an actuating arm 18h, and having also an arm 18, which forms an acute angle with the arm 18"; a spring 19 interposed between a collar 19EL on the rod 15 and a perforate lug 19b with which the shoe 17 is provided and through which the extremity of the rod 15 extends, said extremity being equipped with a col lar 19C; and a link 20, one end of which is connected, by a pivot or wrist-pin 21with the extremity of the arm 18", and the other end of which is provided with a rearwardlyturned perforate portion 22, through which the rod 15 extends, the portion 22 engaging a collar 23 secured adjustably on the rod 15 by means of a set-screw 24.

The shoe 17 has rearwardly extending arms .17L adapted to bear lightly upon the horizontal surface of the iframe-member A, below the roller 2. The shoe is provided, in alinement with the perorate lug 19", with a perforate lug, or socket, 25, which is equipped with a set-screw 26.

The tempo indicator D comprises a tempo scale 27 secured to the frame member A; and a pointer 28 associated therewith and carried by a rod 29, which is in alinement with the rod 15. The rod 29 has one end eX- tending into the socket 25 and secured thereto by the set-screw 26. rThe rod 29 is mounted in guides 30 and 31 carried by the trame-member 1. Suilicient friction exists between the rod 29 andits guides and the shoe 17, and the surface against which it bears, to prevent accidental movement of the tempo-indicator member' 28, with reference to the scale 27. 'lhis does not interfere, however, with the `freedom ot' setting the indicator by means of a hand-lever 10.

rllhe automatic governor D may be moved longitudinally with relation to the roller 2 in the operation of setting the tempo-indicator at a point to give the desired speed of the motor., As the music-sheet is wound upon the roller 2 during the playing operation, the diameter ot the roller 2 is thereby increased. Were the moto-r to continue at its original speed, the surface speed et the music-roll would increase as the diameter increased. This is automatically compensated for, however, by the automatic controller l), whose arm 18" has a rearwardly-turned portion disposed beneath the roller 2 and coacting therewith, so 'that the rock-member 18 will be turned in its bearing in the shoe, or shiftable mounting, 17, thereby drawing the rod 15 to the left against the action of thespring 19. This movement causes the roc r-shaft 14a to turn in such direction as to move the arm 14 to the right, thus drawing the lever 8 to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. T he result is to automatically move the tempo valve C3 to the lett, as indicated by the dotted lines, thus gradually closing the tempo slot 6 of the motor-controlling device.

The leverage is so determined that as the diameter of the roller 2 increases, the valve C3 will be automatically shifted in such manner as to slow down the motor gradually and in just sullicient degree to maintain a constant surface speed at the periphery of the gradually enlarging music-roll which is being wound upon the roller 2. lt is possible, however, to shift the tempo-indicator and likewise the tempo-valve C3 during the playing operation, by moving the handlever 10. llhus, the pointer 28 may be shifted from the position which it occupies at any given instant to any other point o n the scale 27, while the playing operation is in progress, so that the tempo may be manually changed when desired, without` stopping the operation of the mechanical player. In Figs. 1 and 4, the dotted lines 2fL represent the enlarged music-roll; and in Fig. 4, the rock-arm 18b is shown in the depressed position which it occupies after having been depressed by the enlarged music-roll. rllhe portion of the arm 18b which extends beneath the roller 2 is rounded, or o1 circular cross-section, so that there will bea smooth contact with the music-sheet, and the automatic controller D may be readily shifted longitudinally with respect to the roller 2.

ln the modification shown in Fig. 5, the construction is the same as that described, except that the rod 29 which carries the indicator pointer 28 is extended to the lett and connected with one arm or" a vertical rock-shaft 32, whose lower end is equipped. with an arm connected by a link 38 with hand-lever 34. lln this modilication, the rod 29 is connected, as before, with the automatic regulator D, so that the hand-lever 34 is indirectly connected with the lever 8. ln such case, the rod 13 may be connected directly to the lever 8 and the hand-lever 10 may be dispensed with. be employed to adjust the tempo, the niotion being communicated through the rod 15 and other connections with the valve C3. The automatic controller would worlr in the same manner as before, while the lever 34 and the indicator pointer 28 would remain stationary, unless manually adjusted, by means or' the lever 34.

ln the modilication illustrated in Fig. 6, B2 represents an automatic controller of the same construction as the controller D, but which is not directly connected with the rod 29a which carries the indicator pointer 28, The rod 29L connects with a rock-shaft 32a, which is connected, by a linlr 33a, with the lever 8. ln this modiiication, the indicator pointer 28, as well as the hand-lever 10, would automatically shift gradually under the influence the automatic controller D2. lt would nevertheless be possible to shift the indicator during the playing operation,

by means of the lever 10, iii-cm its point at any given instant, to manually change the tempo, it being understood that the valve C3 would be shifted at the same time.

Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the tension of the spring 19 may be adjusted by the adjustable collar 19a; also, the point of connection of the linlr 2O with the rod 15 mayv be adjusted by means oit' the adjustable collar 23, this being done without aecting the tension of' the spring 19.

The lever 34 In some machines, t-he take-up roller 2 is placed closer to the trame-member A than is the case in otherI machines; hence the desirability ot' employing an adjustable con'-y nection between the rock-lever 18 and the tempo-rod l5.

The advantages ot my invention will at once be appreciated by those skilled in the art. At the present time, a speed-regulating device tor mechanical piano-players is not in usV so tar as I am aware, although the need l'or such a device is very great. rlhe present device is a very simpler device which effectively accomplishes the purpose. The invention can loe quite readily adapted to the various makes oit' piano-player actions. ln the illustration given in Fig. 1 is shown one Well-known form ot piano-player action. In this case, the tempo mechanism has not been altered, except that the tempo-indicator has been moved tothe lett and the automatic controller D has been interposed between the indicator and the rod 15. In eilect, the rod 29 is an extension of the rod 15, but with the automatic controller D interposed between the sections of the temporod, so that while the rod-section 29 Which carries the indicator-pointer may remain stationary during' the playingoperation, the

rod-section l5 will be drawn to the left as the diameter ot the music-roll increases. rlhis amounts to making' the tempo-rod of automatically varyinglength and dependent upon the variation ot' the diameter oit' the music-roll, the indicator section ot the rod normally remaining' stationa hut the Whole device, nevertheless, being` shii'tablo through the medium of the lever l() to enable the tempo to be arbitrarily set preparatory to playing, or arbitrailv adjustable during the plavinn' operation. ln the modification shown in plan in Fig. 7, the automatic controller D3 is housed in a separate compartment E a short distance from the location of the take-up roll 2: and the arm 181 of the controller, instead of bearing directly against the music-roll, is actuated 'by an added member of the controller in the form ot a rock-shalt which has an arm 35a that bears against the music-sheet as it Wraps upon the roll 2. rlhe member 35, .which has its axis parallel with the roll 2, is provided with a Wide crank portion 35h adapted to engage the arm 18h, regardless the position oli' the controller l)3 as it may be shifted manually in controlling' the tempo. T he pointer 28h ot the indicator is carried bya rod 29h connected With the controller D3. The automatic controller operates a; tempo-rod 15, which connects with the arn'l 36 ot vertical rock-shaft 36, which has connections (not shown) at its lovcer end tor shitting the valve which controls the motor; and these connections may,

it desired, connect with the manual shitting lever, corresponding with the lever 10 in Fig. 1. 1f desired, however, the rod 29h may be extended and joined by connections in the manner shown in the case of the rod 15, in Fig'. l, to a manual controlling lever, such as l0.

Various changes in details ot' construction and arrangement Within the principle of the invention may be made; hence no unnecessary limitation should be understood from the foregoing); detailed description, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in vievv of the prior art.

What 1 regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. 1n a self-playing musical instrument, the combination With music-rolhcarrying' mechanism, a motor, a tempo-indicator and motor-control device, oic an auto-matic controllerconnected with both the indicator and the motor-control device and having an actua-ting` member co-acting With a roller ot' said music-rollcrrying mechanism.

f2. n a self-playing;- musical instrument.l the combination with music-roll-carryinkc' mechanism, a motor, a tempo-indicator and motor-control. device, of an automatic controller connected with both the indicator and the motor-control device and having?,` yieldinglysheld actuating member cosactinge; with a roller ot said music-roll carryiim` mechanism.

3, lln a self-playing' musical instrument,

the combination with music-rollcarrying mechanism, a motor tor actuating the same, a slidable tempo-rod disposed parallel with a roller of the music-roll-carrying mechanism and equipped with an indicator member and a motor-control device, of an automatic controller connected with said rod and also connected With the motor-control device and having' an aotuatin member co-aetimgr with said roller.

4. ln a self-playing musical instrument. the combination With music-roll-carrying' mechanism, a motor for actuating the same, a slidable tempo-rod disposed parallel with a roller of the music-roll-carrying mechauism and equipped with an 'idicator member and a motor-control device, ot an automatic controller having' an actuating' member coacting with said roller, connections between the motor-control device and both the automatic controller and said rod, and a manual controlling lever permittinq arbitrary adjustment et the tempo either preparatory to or during the playing operation.

5. ln a self-playing' musical instrument, the combination of musi@roll-carryingv mechanism, a motor for actuating the same, a rod slidable parallel With a roller ot' said mechanism and equipped With a tempo-indicator member, another rod parallel with said roller, a lever connected with said rods and having an arm co-acting with said roller, a spring` tending to hold said arm in engagement with said roller, a motor-control device, connections between said motorcontrol device and said rods, and a handlever adapted to arbitrarily control the motor-control device and to arbitrarily shift said rods.

6. ln a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with music-roll-carrying mechanism, a motor for acutating the same, a motor-control device having connections equipped with a readily accessible hand-control for arbitrarily regulating the tempo, a bodily shiftable automatic controller joined to said connections and comprising an actuating member co-acting with a roller of the music-roll-carrying mechanism, and a spring tending to hold said actuating member in engagement with the music-roll.

7. ln a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of music-roll-carrying mechanism, a motor tor actuating` the same, a motor-control device having connections equipped with a readily accessible hand-control for arbitrarily regulating the tempo, of an automatic controller comprising a shoe shiftable longitudinally with respect to a roller ot the musio-roll-carrying mechanism, an actuating member carried by said shoe and co-acting with said roller, connections between said actuating member and said first-named connections, and a spring shittable with said shoe and serving to maintain,

said actuating member in engagement with the music-roll.

8. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination oi" music-roll-carrying mechanism, a motor, a pair of rods slidable parallel with relation to a roller ot said musicroll-carrying mechanism, a tempoindicator member carried by one of said rods, a mounting secured to said last-named rod and shiftable therewith and having a loose connection with the other rod, a lever carried by said mounting and having` an actuating member co-acting with said roller, a link connecting said lever with said other rod, a spring` opposing the action or' said lever, a motor-control device, connections between the motor-control device and said other rod, and a manual shitting lever for arbitrarily adjusting the tempo.

9. ln a self-playing musical instrument, the combination oit music-roll-carrying mechanism, a motor, a normallyvstationary indicator-rod, an automatically shifting rod, a motor-control device connected with said last-named rod, and an automatic controller interposed between said rods and controlled by the music-roll and serving to automatically vary the combined length ot said rods.

10. In a self-playing musical instrument,

the combination of music-roll-carrying mechanism, a motor, a normally stationary indicator-rod, an automatically shifting rod, a motor-control device connected with said last-named rod, an automatic controller interposed between said rods and controlled by the music-roll and serving to automatically vary the combined length of said rods, and a manual shifting lever adapted to arbitrai-ily set the tempo.

11. ln means ot the character set forth, the combination with the take-up roller of music-roll-carrying mechanism, and a tempo-rod, et a mounting slidable longitudinally with relation to said roller, and means carried by said mounting and controlled by the diameter of the music-roll for automatically varying the position of said tempo-rod.

12. ln means ot' the character set forth, the combination with the take-up roller of music-roll-carrying mechanism, olf a mounting movable parallel with said roller, a tempo-rod parallel with said roller and yieldingly connected with said mounting, a lever carried by said mounting and connected with said tempo-rod and controlled by the diameter of the music-roll, a pneumatic motor, a valve controlling the speed et said motor, connections between said valve and said tempo-rod, and a manual lever adapted to arbitrarily change the position of said valve.

13. rllhe combination of the take-up roller of music-roll-carrying mechanism, a pneumatic motor, a valve controlling the speed of said motor, a mountinov movable parallel with said roller, a lever carried by said mounting and controlled by the diameter of the' music-roll, a tempo-rod loosely connected with said mounting, a spring engaging said mounting and yieldingly holding said rod, a link connecting` said lever to said rod, connections between said valve and said rod, and a manual lever joined to said connections and adapt-ed to arbitrarily set the tempo.

la. rl`he combination with the take-up roller of music-roll-carrying mechanism, of a pneumatic motor, a valve controlling the speed of said motor, a mounting slidable parallel with said roller, a tempo-rod loosely connected to said mounting, an actuating member connected with said rod and controlled by the diameter ot the music-roll, connections between said valve and said rod, a rod connected with said mounting and carrying an indicating member, and a manual shifting lever for arbitrarily adjusting the tempo.

15. rll`he combination with the take-up roller ot' mnsic-roll-carrying mechanism, of a pneumatic motor, a valve controlling` the speed oi' said motor, a mounting movable parallel with said roller, a tempo-rod loosely connected to said mounting, means carried by said mounting and controlled by the diameter ot the music-roll for automatically moving said rod, a vertical rock-shaft connected with said rod, link-and-lever connections between said rock-shaft and said valve, and a manual lever associated with said link-and-lever connections and adapted to arbitrarily adjust the tempo.

16. The combination with the take-up roller ot music-roll-carrying mechanism, of a pneumatic motor, a valve controlling the speed ot said motor, a mounting movable parallel Withsaid roller, a lever carried by said mounting and controlled by the diameter oi' the music-roll, a rod loosely connected to said mounting, adjustable connections between said lever and said rod, and linkand-lever connections between said rod and the said valve.

i7. The combination With the take-up roller ot music-roll-carrying mechanism, oit a pneumatic motor, a valve controlling the speed of said motor, a mounting movable parallel With said roller, a lever carried by said mounting and controlled bythe diameter of the music-roll, a rod loosely connected to said mounting, adjustable connections between said lever and said rod, linkand-lever connections between said rod and the said valve, and a manual lever associated With said linlcand-lever connections and adapted to arbitrarily adjust the tempo.

18. The combination with the take-up roller of music-roll-carrying mechanism, ot' a pneumatic motor, a valve tor regulating the speed of said. motor, a tempo scale parallel with said roller, a rod parallel with said roller and equipped With a pointer associated with said scale, a second rod parallel with said roller, a mounting slidable parallel With said roller, an actuating member mounted thereon and controlled by the diameter of the music-roll and connected with said second-named rod, link-and-lever connections between said second named `rod and said valve, and a manual shitting lever adapted to shit't said rods and said valve.

19. In means of the character' set torth, the combination with a take-up roller, a pneumatic motor ior actuating the same, and a valve controlling the speed ot' the motor, ot a tempo rod parallel with said roller and comprising tivo slidable movably related sections, a tempo indicator carried by one of said sections, means tor guiding said section and normally preventing movement thereof, means interposed between said sections and controlled by the music roll for automatically moving the other section, connections between said last-named section and said valve for transmitting motion to said valve, and manual shifting means whereby said rod-sections and .maid valve may be shifted to arbitrarily adjust the tempo,

20. ln a self-playing musical instrument, the combination With lmusic-roll-carrying mechanism, a motor, a tempo-indicator and a motor-control device, ot an automatic controller connected with both the indicator' and the motor-control device and comprising a shiftable temporod-actuating member and its mounting, and a rock-member adapted to actuate said tempo-rod-actuating member and having an arm co-acting With a roller ot said music-roll-carrying mechanism.

2l. In a self-playing musical instrument. the combination With music-roll-carrying mechanism, a motor, a tempo-indicator rod, and motor-control device, of an automatic controller comprising an actuating arm coacting With a roller of said music-roll-carrying mechanism, and a shiftable mountine on which said arm is mounted and ivhicn has operative connections with said motor Control device and said tempo-indicator rod.

ANTON Gr. EYLES. 

